Burundian tactician Francis Haringingo has revealed that joining Rayon Sports as head coach from rivals Kiyovu was not an easy decision to make.

Haringingo agreed to coach the ‘Blues’ last month on a one-year deal which will keep him at the club until June 2023.

He enjoyed one of his best performances of his coaching career in Rwanda last season after guiding Kiyovu into second position. League winners APR won the title with a one point difference. His contract in Kiyovu expired at the end of the season.

The coach revealed it just took him two days to decide his future in a move that initially left his wife worried by how rival club’s supporters would react.

 "At first, my wife was very concerned about how fans would feel about leaving Kiyovu and joining a rival club but I told her its part of my job. In the end, she gave me a go ahead and here I am,” the father of two said.  

The tactician revealed he was hooked by the love that Rayon Sports supporters showed him even when he was at Kiyovu.

"People, especially club supporters, started to send me messages welcoming me to the club even before a deal had been reached yet. The fans showed some love even when I was still with Kiyovu. I could hear them saying ‘Kiyovu is performing well under your tutelage and we would love to one day see you as Rayon Sports manager’,” he said.   

"The love and desire to have me at Rayon had a pivotal influence in making a decision to join Rayon Sports. Not any one can rule out a chance to coach this amazing club and that’s why I am happy to be part of this new project,” he added.

The coach took his entire technical staff with him including his assistant Claude Rwaka, goalkeepers’ coach Vladmir Niyonkuru, and fitness coach Pablo Nduwimana.

With the staff, the former Mukura and Police coach is confident the club can only achieve great things with them.

"It’s a team we have worked for quite some time. For instance, I worked with Rwaka for two years at Mukura, two years at Police and one season at Kiyovu. He knows what I want and so do I because communication is so easy between us,” he said.

Haringingo’s family returned to Burundi recently for holidays but he decided to stay in Rwanda to work on the transfer of players he wants for his new club.

Since his appointment, the club has signed midfielder Eric Ngendahimana from Police FC and are reportedly in talks with a possible return of Rwanda Premier League top scorer Shabban Hussein.

Rayon have already lost first-choice goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera who confirmed he is leaving the club while skipper Kevin Muhire is yet to extend his stay yet after his contract expired at the end of the season.

Haringingo said the club is doing their best to keep their key players while there are also transfers of high-profile foreign players being discussed.